The death of a loved one is the most traumatic experience any of us face. No two people cope with it the same way: some cry while others remain dry-eyed; some discover growth through pain, others find arid wastes; some feel angry, others feel numb. Virginia Ironside deals with this complicated and sensitive issue with great frankness and insight, drawing on other's people's accounts as well as her own experiences.

Too young to get whisked away by a Stannah Stairlift, or to enjoy the luxury of a walk-in bath, Marie is all the same getting on in years - and she's thrilled about it. She's a bit preoccupied about whether to give up sex, but there are compensations, like falling in love with her baby grandson, and maybe falling in love with someone else too.

From funerals to grandchildren to the White Slave Trade, from being a bore to sex, Virginia Ironside tackles all the issues that face today's elegant and distinguished oldies with optimism and enthusiasm.

Marie is back, courting laughter and disaster in equal measure. In her own inimitable style, she's getting older... and loving every minute of it.

Marie is turning 69 this year, but there are no signs of her slowing down - she has a new male lodger (very into conspiracy theories), an intractable iPhone to wrestle with, and a trip to India to plan! As usual the year brings plenty of challenges as well as opportunities. Marie is burgled, which sends the street into uproar. Ex-husand David is still around and getting rather too close for comfort. Marie's cat Pouncer is starting to look rather peaky (her conspiracy-theorist lodger is convinced someone is poisoning him), and probably worst of all, it seems her grandson Gene is getting too...